The Mapping Specialist

IN FOCUS
Mapping road to the Final Four

Andy Kowske is a senior forward for the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team which reached the "Final Four" semi-finals in the NCAA tournament in March 2000.  A native Badger, Andy is an avid map collector.

On a camping trip to the Northwoods of Wisconsin a young Andy Kowske chimed, "Are we there yet?" His dad tossed him the map and said, "figure it out yourself!" As a result Andy's interest in maps began at an early age.  His family traveled throughout the United States and thus began an avocation, which has even taken the "road to the Final Four".

A self-described hard worker, Andy is laid back, loves sports and because of his travels, collects maps.  Hailing from Brookfield, Wisconsin he has lived in the same house all his life.  Recruited nationally out of high school to play basketball, he opted to live the dream of every born and bred Wisconsinite to play for the Badgers of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

As a young lad, Andy and his dad owned a paper route for the Chicago Tribune in Milwaukee.  They purchased a map of the city and Andy mapped out the shortest route between customers.  Not only did his problem-solving skills begin to develop but also his keen spatial awareness and strong work ethic.  These skills can be no more apparent than on the basketball court and in the classroom.  To this day, the city map of Milwaukee is his favorite.

Andy doesn't consider himself a map collector.  The collection is a result of his travels and innate curiosity about places.  On one occasion the UW team played at Ohio State in Columbus.  On the return from St. John Arena to the airport, the bus meandered into a subdivision near Don Scott Airport.  This didn't look right to Andy.  He reached into his duffel bag and pulled out a map of Columbus, which he had purchased across the street from the arena.  Instantly he realized that they were on the opposite side of town from Port Columbus International Airport from which the team's charter to Madison was departing. He pointed out the correct route to the driver and, with a bit of comic relief, arrived home safely.

His philosophy is that there is never an excuse for getting lost.  "There's a gas station everywhere and they have maps.  I never get lost, but sometimes I just can't find something!"

A real estate/urban economics major, Andy plans on continuing his studies in urban planning in graduate school and become a transportation planner.  He laments about the traffic lights in his Brookfield neighborhood.

"When I was a young boy, there was only one stop light in our neighborhood.  Now there are lights every few blocks.  I don't know why. I have ideas on highway design and reducing congestion and would like to put them to use."

Don't be surprised if Andy Kowske will have influenced the road to a future "Final Four".

- Tim Carter